Stop mucking around on Ag Colleges

The LNP has called on Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin to stop mucking around and come clean on his plans for the future of Queensland’s Ag Colleges.

LNP primary industries spokesman Ray Hopper said all of regional Queensland and communities associated with the Ag Colleges were sick of the long wait to find out from the Minister of their futures.

In State Parliament this morning Mr Hopper questioned the Minister on the sale of Dalby and Burdekin Ag Colleges and how many staff would be made redundant.

 “The best the Minister could do was skirt the issue,” Mr Hooper said.

 “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mr Mulherin’s greedy fingers are already signing-off on sale of the land surrounding the Dalby Ag College and the Burdekin College.

 “The Minister will try and hide behind his ‘de-invest to re-invest’ mantra, but the rumours are so strong that I fear the decision to sell has already been made.

 “It’s clear Mr Mulherin has bowed to pressure from Anna Bligh and Treasurer Andrew Fraser to sell …at the expense of rural training.

 “This is about selling assets to prop-up a severely debt-ridden government that has racked up $85 billion and counting.”

 Mr Hopper called on the Minister to stop the sales and enhance what was left of his Department and the Ag Colleges.

 “All the spin the world won’t excuse him for what he’s about to do.”

 Mr Hopper said if Tim Mulherin went ahead with the Ag College sales, he would long be remembered as the Minister who gutted DPI&F, dumped staff on Christmas Eve, destroyed grains research and sold-off the Ag Colleges.